In the 2013 Western Conference Finals, the Blackhawks held a 3-1 lead going into Game 5 at home at the United Center. The Hawks were one win away from going back to the Stanley Cup Final to face Boston. Early in the game, the Blackhawks took a quick 2-0 lead on goals from Keith and Kane. The defending champion Kings battled back to tie the game 2-2 late in the second period. With about five minutes left in the third period, Bickell fed Kane in the slot who buried it to give the Hawks a 3-2 lead, on the verge of advancing to the Final. With 14 seconds left in the game, and the UC crowd on its feet in anticipation, the Kings won a faceoff in the Hawks zone and scored on a fluky deflection by Mike Richards to tie the game 3-3 with seconds left…
This was brutal. The Hawks were 14 seconds away from advancing to the Stanley Cup, and the Kings found a way to force overtime. All of a sudden it went from looking like the Hawks were heading to the Final, to them playing in overtime and potentially looking at a Game 6 back in Los Angeles. One overtime wasn’t enough, but halfway through the second overtime Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane broke away on a 2-on-1…
Kane buried it, capping off his hat trick, giving the Blackhawks the series win, and sending them to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2010. After the goal, Kane had one of the greatest celebrations in hockey history, THE HEARTBREAKER… and then Shawzie following it up with the “Titanic” pose with Kane as they slid across the ice, eventually being mobbed by their Blackhawks teammates.
This goal was important because of its significance in the 2013 Cup run. The Hawks had to rebound from being so close at the end of regulation, to now being faced with OT. Going back to Los Angeles for a Game 6 would have been a nightmare scenario for the Blackhawks. Going from a series clincher in Game 5, to maybe looking at being back in the UC for a winner take all Game 7. No thanks. The Blackhawks regrouped through the first overtime, and Crawford stood tall against all the Kings chances. The Hawks once again survived another long overtime game in the playoffs. This one clinching the Western Conference, and sending them to the 2013 Stanley Cup Final where they defeated the Bruins in six games.
KANE INVESTIGATION UPDATE: Off-Duty police officer drove Kane home on the night of the alleged rape. More here: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2015/08/16/report-off-duty-police-officer-drove-kane-home-night-of-alleged-rape/
#13 coming tomorrow…
Chicago Blackhawks History and Memories 